Launch America

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Launch America
StatusActive
GenreLong-term public-private partnership
CountryUnited States
Years active3
Previous eventSpaceX Crew-6
Next eventBoeing Crewed Flight Test
Organized byNASA

Launch America is a public–private partnership between the United States and multiple space companies, closely related to the NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The term "Launch America" was used as early as May 2016.[1] The initiative aims to end the NASA's reliance on the Russian space agency by developing launch systems that can carry crews to space from American soil.[2][3]

The first space launch under the "Launch America" banner occurred at the Demo-2 mission on 30 May 2020, successfully taking two astronauts to the International Space Station. This marked both the first launch of astronauts by a wholly commercial provider mission in the world, as well as the first crewed space launch by the U.S. in a decade, and the first ever crewed space launch by SpaceX.[4][5][6]

Flights

Mission and Patch Capsule Launch date Landing date Description Crew Outcome
Demo-2 Crew Dragon Endeavour 30 May 2020[5][6] 2 August 2020 First space launch under "Launch America" banner. This marked both the first launch of astronauts by a wholly commercial provider mission in the world, and the first crewed space launch by the U.S. in a decade, and the first ever crewed space launch by SpaceX.
Success
SpaceX Crew-1 Crew Dragon Resilience 16 November 2020[7] 2 May 2021[8] First operational Commercial Crew flight, second overall crewed orbital flight of Crew Dragon, flying four astronauts to the ISS for a six-month mission. Roscosmos had not yet certified the Crew Dragon vehicle, so a third NASA astronaut was added instead of a Russian cosmonaut.[9] Broke the record for the longest spaceflight by a U.S. crew vehicle, previously held by the Skylab 4 mission.[10] All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 64 crew.
Success
SpaceX Crew-2 Crew Dragon Endeavour 23 April 2021[11] 9 November 2021[12] Second operational Commercial Crew flight, third overall crewed orbital flight of Crew Dragon, transferring crew to the ISS for a six-month mission. NASA agreed to allow SpaceX to reuse a booster and capsule for the first time on this flight. It was the first NASA orbital flight to reuse a crewed vehicle since STS-135 in 2011. After spending almost 200 days in orbit, the Crew Dragon Endeavour set the record for the longest spaceflight by a U.S. crew vehicle previously set by her sibling Crew Dragon Resilience on May 2, 2021.[13] All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 65 crew.
Success
SpaceX Crew-3 Crew Dragon Endurance 11 November 2021[16] 6 May 2022[17] Third operational Commercial Crew flight, fifth overall crewed flight of Crew Dragon, transporting four astronauts to the ISS for a six-month mission. All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 66 and Expedition 67 crews.
Success
SpaceX Crew-4 Crew Dragon Freedom 27 April 2022[19] 14 October 2022[20] The fourth flight contracted under CCP contract and the seventh overall crewed flight of Crew Dragon.[21] All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 67 and Expedition 68 crews.
Success
SpaceX Crew-5 Crew Dragon Endurance[28] 5 October 2022[29] 18 March 2023[30] The fifth flight contracted under CCP contract and the eighth overall crewed orbital flight of Crew Dragon.[21] The fourth astronaut is Russian cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, flying on this mission as a part of Dragon–Soyuz swap flights that ensures both countries would have a presence on the station, and the ability to maintain their separate systems, if either Soyuz or commercial crew vehicles are grounded for an extended period.[31] All members of this flight are part of the Expedition 68 and Expedition 69 crews.
Success
SpaceX Crew-6 Crew Dragon Endeavour[35] 2 March 2023[36] 4 September 2023 The sixth flight contracted under CCP contract.[21]
Success
SpaceX Crew-7

Crew Dragon Endurance 26 August 2023[37] TBA In late 2021, NASA contracted SpaceX for three more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-7.[38]
Docked at ISS
SpaceX Crew-8 Crew Dragon Endeavour 4 March 2024 TBA In late 2021, NASA contracted SpaceX for three more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-7.[38]
In orbit
Boeing Crewed Flight Test Starliner Calypso[43] March 2024[44] March 2024 The first crewed mission of Boeing Starliner
Planned
SpaceX Crew-9 TBA NET August 2024 Early 2025 In late 2021, NASA contracted SpaceX for three more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-7.[38]
Planned
SpaceX Crew-10[46] TBA TBA TBA In May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA Planned
SpaceX Crew-11[46] TBA TBA TBA In May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA Planned
SpaceX Crew-12[46] TBA TBA TBA In May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA Planned
SpaceX Crew-13[46] TBA TBA TBA In May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA Planned
SpaceX Crew-14[46] TBA TBA TBA In May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA Planned

Notes

  1. ^ Alongside the 3 other crew members, Megan McArthur is using the same seat of the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour in this mission which her husband, Bob Behnken, used in SpaceX Demo-2 mission, the first mission of the Endeavour capsule.[14]
  2. ^ The European Portion of SpaceX Crew-2 is called Mission Alpha, which is headed by Thomas Pesquet shown by the logo
  3. ^ The European Portion of SpaceX Crew-3 is called Mission Cosmic Kiss, which is headed by Matthias Maurer shown by the logo

References

  1. ^ Lisa Colloredo; NASA (24 May 2016). "Commercial Crew: Launch America". The Space Congress Proceedings. 2016 (44th) The Journey: Further Exploration for Universal Opportunities. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
  2. ^ Carter, Jamie. "Despite SpaceX Success NASA Will Pay Russia $90 Million To Take U.S. Astronaut To The ISS". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  3. ^ "SpaceX Launch America sets NASA's path to the moon and Mars in "huge step forward" for U.S. space exploration". Newsweek. 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  4. ^ "NASA rolls out 'Launch America' campaign". KCBD. CNN. 8 May 2020. Archived from the original on 31 May 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Launch America: NASA and SpaceX Demo-2 Test Flight". U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna. 20 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b David Smith (30 May 2020). "Trump wants America looking at the stars as he drags it through the gutter". The Guardian.
  7. ^ "Commercial Crew Press Kit". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  8. ^ "Crew-1 Makes Nighttime Splashdown, Ends Mission". NASA. 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ Foust, Jeff (31 March 2020). "NASA selects astronauts for Crew Dragon mission". spacenews.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Live coverage: SpaceX crew capsule set to move to new space station docking port". Spaceflight Now. 5 April 2021. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  11. ^ Herridge, Linda (23 April 2021). "NASA, SpaceX Officials Thrilled With Crew-2 Launch Success". NASA. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  12. ^ Sempsrott, Danielle (14 June 2021). "NASA, SpaceX Update Crew Launch and Return Dates". NASA. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  13. ^ Ralph, Eric. "SpaceX Dragon returns astronauts to Earth after record-breaking spaceflight". Teslarati. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Megan to reuse Bob's demo-2 seat in crew-2 mission". Al Jazeera. 20 April 2020. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Thomas Pesquet first ESA astronaut to ride a Dragon to space". ESA Science and Exploration. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  16. ^ Sempsrott, Danielle (10 November 2021). "NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 Underway as Endurance Journeys to Station". NASA. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  17. ^ Chelsea, Gohd (28 April 2022). "SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts have fun testing spacesuits before coming home (photos)". space.com.
  18. ^ "Kayla Barron". NASA. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  19. ^ Costa, Jason (27 April 2022). "NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 Underway as Freedom Journeys to Station". NASA. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  20. ^ "NASA, SpaceX Adjust Crew-5 Launch Date". Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  21. ^ a b c "Boeing, SpaceX Secure Additional Crewed Missions Under NASA's Commercial Space Transport Program". 4 January 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2019. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  22. ^ Finch, Joshua (12 February 2020). "NASA Assigns Astronauts to Agency's SpaceX Crew-4 Mission to Space Station". nasa.gov. NASA. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  23. ^ Howell, Elizabeth (23 February 2021). "These 2 NASA astronauts will fly on SpaceX's Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station in 2022". Space.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  24. ^ NASA Commercial Crew [@Commercial_Crew] (February 12, 2021). "NASA astronauts @astro_kjell and Bob Hines have been assigned to launch on the agency's @SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the @Space_Station. The mission is expected to launch in 2022 from @NASAKennedy. Get to know more about the Crew-4 @NASA_Astronauts: https://t.co/p83i4IwpfQ https://t.co/a2Es9a8e3c" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ ESA [@esa] (May 28, 2021). "ESA astronaut @AstroSamantha Cristoforetti is named to serve as @Space_Station commander on Expedition 68, following an in-principle agreement by international partners on 19 May 2021. As part of #Crew4, Samantha will fly on a @SpaceX #CrewDragon in 2022 👉https://t.co/XWin3BnInK https://t.co/kMtXswUvUD" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ "Commanding role for ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti". ESA. 28 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  27. ^ "NASA Assigns Astronaut Jessica Watkins to NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 Mission". 16 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Media Briefing: NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 Prelaunch". YouTube. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022. Alt URL
  29. ^ Cawley, James (5 October 2022). "Liftoff! Crew-5 Flight Crew Soars into the Florida Afternoon Sky". NASA. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  30. ^ Lavelle, Heidi (11 March 2023). "Dragon Endurance Undocks from the Space Station". NASA. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  31. ^ "Rogozin says Crew Dragon safe for Russian cosmonauts". SpaceNews. 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  32. ^ "anna".
  33. ^ "Распоряжение Правительства Российской Федерации от 10.06.2022 № 1532-р ∙ Официальное опубликование правовых актов ∙ Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации". publication.pravo.gov.ru. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  34. ^ "Премьер-министр РФ Михаил Мишустин подписал распоряжение, позволяющее Роскосмосу провести переговоры с NASA об исполнении соглашения по «перекрёстным полётам»".
  35. ^ Cawley, James (3 November 2022). "NASA Updates Crew Flight Manifest to Space Station". NASA. Retrieved 5 November 2022. The Crew-6 mission will be Dragon Endeavour's fourth flight to the space station
  36. ^ Cawley, James (2 March 2023). "Liftoff! Crew-6 Lights Up the Florida Early Morning Sky". NASA. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  37. ^ "Falcon 9 Block 5 - SpaceX Crew-7". Next Spaceflight. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  38. ^ a b c "NASA to Secure Additional Commercial Crew Transportation – Commercial Crew Program".
  39. ^ "ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen set to return to space".
  40. ^ @esaspaceflight (March 24, 2022). "@YannickJungman3 @Astro_Andreas @Space_Station @SpaceX @esa @UFM_MIN @DTUtweet @AschbacherJosef Pilot for Crew-7, a…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  41. ^ "Medics find Russian cosmonauts fit for flying on Crew Dragon to ISS".
  42. ^ "К перекрёстным полётам Роскосмоса и NASA добавили одну миссиюе". IXBT (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  43. ^ Dunbar, Brian (2019-12-22). "Starliner Returns to Earth With a New Name: Calypso". NASA. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  44. ^ Berger, Eric (August 7, 2023). "Starliner undergoing three independent investigations as flight slips to 2024". Ars Technica.
  45. ^ "NASA Shares Assignments for its SpaceX Crew-9 Space Station Mission". 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  46. ^ a b c d e "NASA just bought the rest of the space station crew flights from SpaceX". 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
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